Covid red tape forces Gemmill rethink

SCOTLAND Under-21s boss Scot Gemmill has been forced to omit ten players from English-based clubs for the opening Euro qualifier in Turkey next week because of a difference in exemption rules between the Scottish and UK Governments. The Scots face the Turks in Bursa a week tomorrow in a group featuring Denmark, Belgium and Kazakhstan.

But Gemmill has now had to call-up nine Scottishbased players to replace his Anglo contingent. This is because Turkey is on the UK’s red list for Covid and the UK Government offer no exemptions for footballers, unlike Holyrood. Kai Kennedy, Jamie Hamilton and Hibs’ James Scott are now in the squad.